Compassionate, Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

Though head and neck tumors are rare, they can have a devastating effect on a person’s appearance and how a person speaks, swallows, and breathes. At Chicago ENT, our goal is to not only eliminate the disease, but also to restore our patient’s appearance, function, and ability to recover emotionally.

Non-Invasive Means Smoother Recovery

Finding new and better ways to treat our patients with head and neck cancer remains a top priority to Dr. Michael Friedman. He recently developed and published articles highlighting many new techniques for reconstructing the trachea and larynx to allow surgical removal of the tumor. This cutting-edge technique allows patients to return to relatively normal lives.

All the head and neck surgeons at Chicago ENT often recommend using non-invasive surgical techniques, combined with guidance of virtual real time computerized scans, to remove tumors without more debilitating—and more invasive— open procedures. Chicago ENT also performs minimally invasive surgery for skull base tumors. For more information on specific cancers of the head and neck, please click here.

Head and Neck Cancer – Watch the Signs

The symptoms for head and neck cancer differ greatly depending on what type of cancer is present. If you have:

A change in the voice or hoarseness that doesn’t go away

A sore throat that does not go away

Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing

Ear pain

A lump in the neck

Coughing

… you may want to schedule an appointment with a Chicago ENT specialist to discuss potential symptoms of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Symptoms of oral cancer

If you have:

A lump on the lips or in the mouth

A sore on the lips or in the mouth that does not heal

A red or white patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth

Bleeding or pain in the lips or mouth

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Loose teeth

A sore throat

Swelling in the jaw

… you may want to schedule an appointment with a Chicago ENT specialist to discuss potential symptoms of oral cancer.

Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer

If you have:

A lump in the back of the mouth, throat, or neck

A sore throat that does not go away

Coughing

Difficulty swallowing

Pain behind the breastbone

Pain in the ear

Unintended weight loss

Voice change

… you may want to schedule an appointment with a Chicago ENT specialist to discuss potential symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer.

Symptoms of salivary cancer It’s important to note that salivary cancer often does not have any symptoms. It may be discovered during a routine dental check-up or physical exam. If any of these symptoms are present:

A lump in the cheek, ear, jaw, lip, or inside of the mouth

Difficulty opening the mouth fully

Difficulty swallowing

Fluid draining from the ear

Numbness or weakness in the face

Pain in the face that does not go away

… you may want to schedule an appointment with a Chicago ENT specialist to discuss potential symptoms of salivary cancer.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer

If you have:

A lump in the side of the neck

Difficulty swallowing

Hoarseness or other voice change

… you may want to schedule an appointment with a Chicago ENT specialist to discuss potential symptoms of thyroid cancer.